Groton Democrats Endorse Candidates For November Ticket

Groton’s Democratic Town Committee chose a slate of candidates Thursday to run in the November municipal elections, and said they hope to win a majority on the town council for the first time in decades.

Democrats have not controlled the council since at least the early 1980s.

“Let’s actually take it over for the first time in a very, very long time,” Democratic Town Committee Chairman Dave Ferreira said.

The group nominated nine people to run, including incumbent Bill Johnson, who said, "I didn't get everything done I wanted to get done in two years, so I'm going to continue."

Newcomers include Richard Semeraro, a labor lawyer for 35 years; Robert Frink, who worked for Northeast Utilities and a software company; Rita Schmidt, a former town councilor who has been active in tourism; Lisa Luck, a computer instructor who teaches unemployed and underemployed adults; John Scott, a former councilor and small business owner; George Swift, a Groton city resident who serves on the Eastern Point Historic Commission; and Warren Cooper, a retired engineer and designer from Electric Boat.

The Democrats endorsed four incumbents for school board, including Elizabeth Gianacoplos, a longtime Republican who recently switched parties.

Several newcomers said they are running to give back to the community.

Jon Heller, who teaches at the Coast Guard Academy, was nominated to take the seat of Peter Fairbanks, who resigned from Representative Town Meeting in District 7.

Heller said finds himself suggesting to people relocating here that they look at East Lyme, Stonington or Ledyard, and he’d like to change that to include Groton again.

“I don’t think you get a right to complain if you’re not willing to do something about it,” he said.

Karen Hatcher, a city resident running for Representative Town Meeting in District 8, said she’s concerned about Groton’s long-term future as a city.

“I’m concerned about job growth, job creation and being able to maintain a viable work force here,” she said.

The candidates endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee are listed below:

Town Council

Richard Semeraro

John Scott

Lisa Luck

Rita Schmidt

Robert Frink

Bill Johnson (incumbent)

George Swift

Warren Cooper

John Wirzbicki

Board of Education

Brian M. Shirvell (incumbent)

Patricia Monahan Doyle (incumbent)

Elizabeth B. Gianacoplos (incumbent)

Rita P. Volkmann (incumbent)

Kim Watson

Representative Town Meeting

District 1

Joseph A. Baril (incumbent)

Dolores R. Harrell (incumbent)

Roscoe Merritt (incumbent)

District 2

Jean-Claude Ambroise (incumbent)

Syma A. Ebbin (incumbent)

Patrice M. Granatosky (incumbent)

District 3

Alicia T. Bauer (incumbent)

Michael B. Collins (incumbent)

Elizabeth Luck (incumbent)

District 4

Nancy Driscoll

District 5

Jennifer Sim

Chris Conley

Constance Miller (incumbent)

District 6

Richard J. Pasqualini, Jr. (incumbent)

Dave Ferreira

Robert Garcia

District 7

Mark Svencer (incumbent)

Jim Loughlin

Dana Semeraro (incumbent)

Pam Ryley

Jon Heller

District 8

Karen Hatcher

Genevieve Cerf

Gary Burfoot

John Wirzbicki